Thursday, December 13 ~ LANGFORD
by Mary P Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
A total of 100 affordable housing units will be built at 731 Station Avenue in the Langford city core area, with construction now getting started for the 60 units of Phase 1. Phase 2 will produce 40 units — all 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom units — for indigenous families with rent geared to income.
The six-storey apartment building of Phase 1 will sit above ground-floor commercial space, offering market rental units from small studio-size apartments with rent at about $640 per month to 3-bedroom units at $1,500 per month.
Premier John Horgan delivered the main announcement at an outdoor event in the rainy-day construction zone, with about 80 people under tent cover. He said that 16 months ago when his government took office that there was “an absolute lack of indigenous housing both on and off reserve”.
Horgan said BC “intruded a little bit into federal jurisdiction to give a nudge to Prime Minister Trudeau” in providing indigenous housing. “It’s critically important that all orders of government focus on addressing the housing challenges here in BC, particularly when it comes to indigenous people,” the premier said. He reminded about the $550 million announced in BC Budget 18 that will be spent over the next 10 years, to build 1,750 homes for indigenous families in need.
The larger family-size units of Phase 2 will “allow people to move into the community and put down the roots that all of us need to realize our full potential,” said Horgan. “Housing is foundational to our lives and success as individuals and as a community.”
“It’s important — everybody’s responsibility– to look at the needs for housing for everyone,” said Mayor Stew Young. Langford has addressed affordable housing for 25 years, starting with Young’s original speech when the city incorporated in 1992. He acknowledged the support of support of his council and the community in this mission to house people and build a vibrant community.
“We’re in an affordable housing crisis. This government recognizes it. They have stepped up, realizing what we do here, and where the money should go, and splitting up equally for all different types of housing,” said Stew Young.
Young thanked the M’akola Housing Society for their leadership in recognizing the importance of working with community and working with city staff.
“This is what Langford’s all about – making sure that we provide the density and process that is efficient so that we can actually get to where we all need to be. This is a housing crisis. We need to make sure that we move things forward,” said Stew Young.
“What you’re seeing here today is an example of how things should happen and how things should work”, the mayor said, with reference to vision, efficiency and moving forward with affordable housing in partnership with the provincial government, the community and M’akola.
Horgan added that he feels the local Sooke School District 62 (SD62) is keeping up well enough with the rapid growth in population as a result of increased housing. Lands have been purchased. “We’ve got 5 sites underway, and we’re working with school board very cooperatively to try and fill the gaps. This is a fast growing region, one of the fastest growing school districts in the province. Keeping pace with enrollment has been a challenge,” the premier said during the media questions portion of the event.
The Province is investing approximately $20 million in capital costs toward the Station Avenue development:
* Phase 1: $12 million through the Provincial Investment in Affordable Housing program
* Phase 2: $8 million through the Building BC: Indigenous Housing Fund
* Through the Building BC: Indigenous Housing Fund, the Province will provide $550 million over the next 10 years to build 1,750 units of social housing for Indigenous peoples, on- and off-reserve in BC. In the west shore, this includes 164 homes in Colwood and Langford.
The Indigenous Housing Fund was launched in Budget 2018 as part of the Province’s 30-point housing plan. The plan outlines the largest investment in affordable housing in B.C.’s history – more than $7 billion over 10 years. Through this investment, the Province will work in partnership to create 114,000 new, affordable homes.
Through the new Building BC housing funds, the Province is investing $140 million for 1,100 units of affordable housing throughout the Capital Regional District (CRD). This includes:
* Community Housing Fund: $100 million for more than 900 homes
* Indigenous Housing Fund: $33 million for more than 160 homes
* Women’s Transition Housing Fund: $7 million for 20 homes